When I first saw the trailers for Brave, I was reallllllly excited. I thought it was going to be the perfect mix of the Pixar I know and love with a dash of the old school Disney princess tale I grew up on. I was looking forward to seeing a tough cartoon princess on the big screen again.
But then I actually watched Brave, and I was slightly disappointed.
It’s not that Brave is baaaaaaad. It’s not. If it was produced by any other studio than Pixar, I might feel more enthusiastic about it, but I expect more from Pixar. Plus, the flick caters to the lowest common denominator at points (we get it...people don’t wear anything under kilts) that it’s almost reminiscent of a Shrek film. And that is NOT a compliment. Also, about exactly halfway through the movie, it completely changes plot, and I thought to myself, “Wait...this is not what the trailer sold me on!”
Brave is the story of Merida (Kelly MacDonald), a skilled archer and the headstrong daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Wanting to be independent and not follow the traditional princess route, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the lords of the land, voiced by Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, and Robbie Coltrane, who erupt in fury. And then, randomly, she turns to a crazy, old Witch (Julie Walters) for help, and wishes to change her fate. What transpires after that is...well, not really what you expect since you thought you were getting just your typical “impetuous heroine doing brave things” movie a la Mulan.
This isn’t to say that Brave doesn’t have its cute moments—it does, and you’ll even smile a couple of moments. But, this is the same studio that gave us Ratatouille and WALL-E, and Brave is just NOT up to par with their legacies. It doesn’t even have the same resonance or weight as the third act in Toy Story 3. I just didn’t seem to FEEL anything when watching it. And, while the imagery and Scottish highlands are beautiful, as are Merida’s horse and her unruly curls, the 3D just isn’t as worthwhile as you would imagine from Pixar.
Kids will probably still love Brave, but this Pixar outing doesn’t have the same cleverness or smile-inducing moments that will keep the parents as entertained. I’m gonna go pop in my Ratatouille Blu-Ray and reminisce...
-- Darcie Duttweiler
But then I actually watched Brave, and I was slightly disappointed.
It’s not that Brave is baaaaaaad. It’s not. If it was produced by any other studio than Pixar, I might feel more enthusiastic about it, but I expect more from Pixar. Plus, the flick caters to the lowest common denominator at points (we get it...people don’t wear anything under kilts) that it’s almost reminiscent of a Shrek film. And that is NOT a compliment. Also, about exactly halfway through the movie, it completely changes plot, and I thought to myself, “Wait...this is not what the trailer sold me on!”
Brave is the story of Merida (Kelly MacDonald), a skilled archer and the headstrong daughter of King Fergus (Billy Connolly) and Queen Elinor (Emma Thompson). Wanting to be independent and not follow the traditional princess route, Merida defies an age-old custom sacred to the lords of the land, voiced by Kevin McKidd, Craig Ferguson, and Robbie Coltrane, who erupt in fury. And then, randomly, she turns to a crazy, old Witch (Julie Walters) for help, and wishes to change her fate. What transpires after that is...well, not really what you expect since you thought you were getting just your typical “impetuous heroine doing brave things” movie a la Mulan.
This isn’t to say that Brave doesn’t have its cute moments—it does, and you’ll even smile a couple of moments. But, this is the same studio that gave us Ratatouille and WALL-E, and Brave is just NOT up to par with their legacies. It doesn’t even have the same resonance or weight as the third act in Toy Story 3. I just didn’t seem to FEEL anything when watching it. And, while the imagery and Scottish highlands are beautiful, as are Merida’s horse and her unruly curls, the 3D just isn’t as worthwhile as you would imagine from Pixar.
Kids will probably still love Brave, but this Pixar outing doesn’t have the same cleverness or smile-inducing moments that will keep the parents as entertained. I’m gonna go pop in my Ratatouille Blu-Ray and reminisce...
-- Darcie Duttweiler
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